Catullus and his Successors

(aka Problems in Augustan Literature)

16:190:579 Spring 2005

Wed 5:00-7:40 pm; RAB-003, D/C

 

 

Leah Kronenberg                                                                               Ruth Adams Bldg. 006 (DC)

Department of Classics                                                                      732-932-9600

Office Hours: by appointment                                                          kronenb@rci.rutgers.edu

 

Course Description

 

This course will focus on the poet Catullus and his influence on Augustan literature.  We will begin by reading Catullus' poetry in Latin and will aim to work our way through much of his corpus, paying attention to issues of genre, language and meter, as well as to the historical, intellectual, and cultural context of his poetry.  The primary text readings will be supplemented by a selection of secondary literature reflecting a variety of theoretical approaches.  Finally, we will look at how some of the first readers and critics of Catullus, namely Horace, Virgil, Propertius, and Ovid, constructed their own version of Catullus through intertextual engagement with his poetry.

 

Course Website

 

The course website is accessible through the WebCT homepage.  Go to https://webct.rutgers.edu and follow the instructions for logging in as a student.  You will need to have a NetID and password to access the website.

 

Required Texts (Available at RU Ferren Mall bookstore)

 

1. C. Valerii Catulli Carmina. Ed. R. A. B. Mynors. Oxford University Press.

2. Catullus: the Poems. Edited with introduction, revised text, and commentary by Kenneth Quinn.  Bristol

    Classical Press 1973.

Note: other commentaries are acceptable

 

Grading and Evaluation

 

1. Class participation and presentations     20%

2. Tests (2)                                            40%

3. Paper            (May 2)                        40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule (subject to change)                                                Presentation Topics

 

Week 1: Wed Jan 18: Introduction
 
Week 2: Wed Jan 26 Polymetrics (1-17)                                   Lesbia and Clodia (Leah)

 

Week 3: Wed Feb 2 Polymetrics  (21-38)                                 male friends, enemies, and lovers

 

Week 4: Wed Feb 9 Polymetrics (39-60)                                  invective and obscenity

 

Week 5: Wed Feb 16 Carmina docta (61-62)                           love, marriage, and sexuality

 

Week 6: Wed Feb 23 test #1  (1-62)                                        epyllion (Leah)

 

Week 7: Wed Mar 2; Carmina docta (63, 64 Part 1)                 neoteric circle
 
Week 8: Wed Mar 9 Carmina docta (64 part 2)                                    Catullan language

 

Week 9: Wed Mar 23 Elegies (65-68)                                      Epicureanism in Catullus (Leah)

                                                                                               

Week 10: Wed Mar 30 Elegies (69-87)                                      genre of elegy and epigram                    

 

Week 11: Wed Apr 6 Elegies (88-116)                                     political invective

 

Week 12: Wed Apr 13  test # 2 (63-116)                                 Virgil and Catullus (Leah)

 

Week 13: Wed Apr 20 Catullus and Horace                            
 
Week 14: Wed Apr 27; Catullus and the elegists